Because terrorists can strike anywhere at any time, there is a pressing need today to sensitize immigration officers to be on their guard to detect people trying to enter the country on false or altered documents, people on terrorist watch lists, and people trying to bring weapons into the country, particularly bombs or bomb-making materials. In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security has consolidated parts of the U. S. Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service into the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the face of the new terrorism threats (Achieving). The Office of Training Development has created training courses because these different groups have received different training in the past, and the courses emphasize joint learning so the members can learn from each otherÆs experience.
The first step is to develop a strong alliance against terrorists through a counter-terrorist response procedure, with customs inspections working side by side with immigration officers on the front lines at airports to process international travelers entering the country at primary screening areas (Achieving). This requires mandatory training in detecting possible terrorists, fraudulent documents, and honing interview skills. Teams of officers from passenger enforcement rover teams (PERT) and passenger analysis units (PAU) conduct secondary examinations of terrorist lookouts and passengers with ties to terrorism, coordinating with the National Targeting Center.
Members of PAU and PERT get updated antiterrorism lessons, and airport supervisors responsible for passenger processing are required to attend a one-day seminar to prepare them for their new responsibilities. PERT has now become Counter-Terrorism Response Rover Training (CTRRT) and works together with PAU to make sure potential terrorists cannot enter the United States through airports (Hawki...